Work support for slicing machines



' 1931- w. J. CAMPBELL 5,

WORK SUPPORT FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed June 8, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1'Dec. 8, 1931. w, J CAMPBELL, 1,835,276

WORK SUPPORT FORHSLICING MACHINES Filed June a, 19.29 s Sheets-Sheet 213 i W r0 i w'jjiz' @l 7' Dec. 8, .1931. w, CAMPBELL 1,835,276

WORK SUPPORT FOR SLIGING MACHINES 3' Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 8, 1929ygniwAQnt/l (Kim/225 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 unrrn STATES PAT T' F C 1:;WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL, on INDIANAPOLIS, IND ANA, Ass GNon T AMERICAN sLIoNG MACHINE ooMrANY, or cHIcAeo, ILLINOIS, A\CORPORATIO1\T or NEW YQLRK'WORK SUPPORT FOB. SLICING Application filed June 8, 1929. Serial No.369,447.

My invention relates to a slicing machine of the type wherein a circularknife is employed, herein shown as motor driven. One

object of the invention is to provide an adjustable work support orcarriage and in particular to provide such a carria e or support withmeans whereby the angle of the supporting surface may be adjustedthrough a considerable are from the horizontal. Another object is theprovision of means forpermitting such angular adjustment to be employedin connection with an outwardly bowed gau e plate for the work beingsliced; Another 0%- ject is the provision of improved means for lockingor holding the meat support at various positions of adjustment Otherobjects will apepar from time to time in the course of the specificationand claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less dia- 26 grammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view; Figure 2 is afront elevation; Figure 3 is an elevation similar to Figure 2 i with thework support in a different position;

Figure L is an end elevation, ith parts in section; and r v Figure 5 isa section on the line 5-5 of Fi ure 2. I

like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specificationand drawings.

A generally indicates a base or support for a slicing machine and Aground engaging members or pads.

B lies in a. generally horizontal plane but is tilted somewhat out ofperpendicularity to the path of movement of the carriage later to bedescribed. B indicates a guard plate positioned in front of theknife Band including an arcuate edgeB penetrating the recess B in front of theknife. B indicatesa gen' 7 er'ally bell shaped guard portion the edge ofwhichpenetrates the recess B at the rear of the knife.

Mounted on the base A isa circular knife. B wit'h'its knife shaft B?andpulley B 'asso-Q ciated therewitln B indicates abelt extend-1 Cgenerally indicates a supporting structure upon which is mounted thegauge plate 0 C indicatesany suitable control knob in response'to therotation of which the gauge plate G and its support C are moved towardand away from the cutting plane of the knifeB. 1

The contour of the cutting arcv of the knife is somewhat bowed forward,owing to the tilting of the axis of the shaft B and faces of gauge andguard platesare bowed to correspond; as shown for example in Figure 4.This bowing is necessary or at least preferable in order that the spacebetween the cutting edge of the knife and the adjacent edge top tobottom of the cutting are, so that the slices may be of even thicknessthroughout.

of the gauge plate C may be'uniform from D generally indicates a track,here'in shown as cylindrical in cross section, which may be mounted inany suitable manner upon the base A of the machine. Positioned adjacentthe track D, herein shown as aligned below it; is

the rectangular guide track D v Slidably mounted on the track D is thecarriage structure generally indicated asD n The track D serves toprevent the rotation of the carriage about the trackD and 'in order toeffect this guiding control I provide the opposed flanges-1 :Dil) onopposite sides of the trackjD I may employ {any suitable means forexample the adjusting screws D D 'with the lock nuts D D -vv'hereby a,limitedrotation of'the carriage D about the track D-may be effected; foradjustment purposes. The carriage itself may include terminal bearingsleeves D D connectedfor example bythe 'wa-lls D The intermediate hollowportion D ofthe car riage may be filled with any suitable packing:

means; for example a fibrous mat, which may serve to receivea lubricant,WllGIGbYthG bearings are constantly lubricated. If desired the top-ofthecarriage may be, closed in order to prevent escape of the lubricantor penetration of dirt particles into the central space of the carriage.I a

' Mounted up on the carriage is the WOI'kSUIP port proper 'which' mayinclude aflatbottom plate E the side-flange Ea -and transvs erse 1holding member-s EK These holding meme hers may be hinged as at E to thecarriage proper, whereby the work supporting member may be rotated abouttheip-ivot E E indicates a compound handle and guiding pin upon which isslidable the sleeve E to which is secured the pusher plate E as by thehandle E which is connected by the member E with the sleeve E and by themember 4 9 with the pusher plate. The member E is formed to clear thetop of the flange E E is the guard member adapted to cover the cuttingedge of the knife when the carriage is at the termination of the cuttingstroke and E. is a supplemental guard associated therewith lying in aplane generally perpendicular thereto.-

In order to control the location of the member E, I provide a pluralityof links G which may be pivoted as at G upon the member E which carriesthe plate E. These links are slotted as at G and through the slots maypass the pin G3 one end of which is secured in the carriage and theother of which is provided with a locking knob G*. G indicates a washerupon the pivot G spacing apart the links G. Aligned on the pin G betweenand about the links G are a plurality of washers G which may be of anysuitable frictional material, for example fiber. It will be understoodthat when the member E has been set at the desired angle, as shown forexample in Figure 3, the knob G is rotated in locking position, clampingthe slotted portions G of the links Gr. Each link is engaged on eachside by one of the frictional washers G and the result is a firm lockingof the device in supporting position, which will resist even relativelyheavy weights, such as the weight of a large piece of meat.

When the member E is in the horizontal position as illustrated in Figure2, it normally rests upon a limit stop or flange D. However I mayprovide for any suitable adjusting means, herein illustrated as by theset screw D and lock nut D whereby the work supporting plate E may beaccurately adjusted in its horizontal position.

Owing to the fact that the gauge and guard plates are outwardly bowed,as above described it is necessary that some provision be made forpermitting the edge of the member Eto clear the faces of guard and gaugeplates when it is rotated into upwardly inclined position, as in'Figure3. Assuming that the edge of the member E closely approaches the loweredge .of the gauge plate C any upward movement of the member E will tendto bring it into contact with the outwardly bowed face of the gaugeplate. In order to permit this upward rotation to take place withoutsuch contact I may incline the axis of rotation of the member E.Referring for example to- Figure 4 I illustrate the pivot members Ewhich may be considered a single pivot or axis, as downwardly andoutwardly inclined away from the cutting plane of the knife. The resultis that as the member E is upwardly tilted there is a slight lateralmovement of its edge away from the cutting plane. The face and edges ofthe guard members E E are of course bowed, as shown in Figure 4 andsuii'icient excess space is given to permit them to clear the face ofthe gauge plate as they are rotated. As shown in Figure 4 the pivots Eare somcwhat inclined downwardly and outwardly in relation to the gaugeplate. This effect may be obtained either by having the pivots inclinedin relation to the carriage or by slightly inclining the carriage. InFigure 4 both methods are indicated, and in any case in which it shallbe undesirable to incline the axes E or in which they shallinadvertently have been insufficiently inclined, the members I) may beadjusted to obtain the desired inclination of the axes E, and to permitthe member E to clear the bowed face of the gauge plate or guard platewhen it is upwardly inclined as in Figure 3.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practicaland operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in thesize, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from thespirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings tobe taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather thanas limiting me to my specific showing.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

In the type of slicing machine herein described I lind it desirable toemploy a work supporting member, such as the plate with its attendantabutment flange E which may be positioned at the will of an operator ineither horizontal position or in inclined position. When an operator isslicing large articles, such as bacons and loaves of bread, and isslicing them with the bacon or loaf in horizontal position on thecarriage, the hori zontal positioning of the member E gives ample roomfor a large loaf or bacon. In slicing smaller articles or articles ofcircular cross section, such as sausage, the member E may be tilted intothe position in which it is shown in Figure 3, in order to hold thearticle, such as a sausage, positioned by gravity against the abutmentflange E In order to provide firm means for locking the member E inposition I employ a plurality of slotted links, with gripping frictionalwashers. These washers enlarge the clamping space, by duplication, andmay add to the clamping effect by increased friction resistance, iffiber is employed. Under some circumstances metal washers may besatisfactory but where increased support is necessary, fiber or anyother suitable frictional substance may be employed.

I ployed.

ing to permit the upward tilting of the mem-.

ber E. I may effect the compensation in several ways and 1 indicate thetwo methods, which may beembodied in the'same machine, the angularadjustment of the carriage D about the track D, and the inclination ofthe axes E from the horizontal. The axes E may be inclined to thecarriage, or the car riage itself may be adjusted by means'of themembers D or both methods may be em- Note that the point of support ofthe carriage D on the track D is positioned adjacent the center of massof the carriage. One

important result of this balanced support is the substantial.elimination of any substantial lateral thrust against the adjustingscrews The resultis a very smooth movement of the carriage along thetrack, a maximum ease in thrust which is particularly important aspermitting easy and rapid movement of the carriage.

Note further that the width of the work supporting member E issubstantially equal to the length of the actual cutting excursion. Inother words in reciprocating the carriage back and forth across the faceof the knife, and considering the use of the device when slicing largepieces, substantially the entire reciprocation is a cutting movement andthere is a minimum waste of energy;

Referring for example to Figure 2 it will be seen that the center of thepivot pin E is slightly to the left of the flange E. The center ofthepivot is so placed in order to make sure that the edge of the meatsupport or horizontal plate adjacent the pivot E will never drop belowthe top of the slice supporting shelf X when the plate is tilted up.

7 he function of the shelf X is to support the edge or forwardportion ofthe work adjacent the gauge plate, at all adjustments of the gauge plateC and it is important that at no position of the member E should thework,

or any part of-it, drop to a level below the upper level of the memberX. 7 It will also be seen, for example in Figure 4, that I may employ a.pair of pivot pins E which lie in the generally horizontal plane of thetrack I). This effects a saving in space and permits a sufficientseparation of the tracks D and D without increasing the height of thebaseor requiring an increase in the height of the carriage itself.

I claim:

1. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it and acarriage movable across the faceof said knife, a work support pivotedupon said carriage for rotation about an axis at right angles to thepath of movement of said carriage,said axis being inclinedfidownwardlyand outwardly away from-thefcuttingLplaneof the knife. 1 iv 2; Incombination 'witha slicing machine havingza knife and means foractuating it, an outwardlybowed gauge-plate and a car riage movableacross the face of said gauge plate, .a work support pivotedupon saidcarria'ge for rotation about an axis at right angles to the path ofmovement of said carriage, said axis being inclined downwardly andoutwardly away fromthe cutting plane of the knife, sufficiently topermittheedge of. the work support to clear the bowed portionof thegauge plate when the work sup port is upwardly tilted. V ii 3. Inaslicing machine-having a knifeand meansfor actuating it and a carriagemovable across the face of said knife, a work support pivoted upon saidcarriage for rotation about an axis at right angles to the path ofmovement of saidicarriage, said axis being normally. downwardly andoutwardly inclinedaway from the cutting plane of the knife,; and meansfor varying oradjusting the inclination of 'saidaxis.

4t. In combination'with a slicing machine having ,a knife and meansforactuating it,

anoutwardly bowed gauge plate and a car- R ;.f5.; .In'a slicing machinehaving a knife and meansvfor actuat ng 1t and a carriage movable acrossthe, face of said knife, a guiding and supporting track along whichsaidcarriage is movable, said track being aligned with the center of weightof said carriage.

6. In 9.1 slicing machinehaving a knife and means for actuating it and acarriage movable across the face of said knife, a guiding and supportingtrack along which said carriage is movable, said track being alignedwith the center of weight of said carriage, and an additional guidetrack vertically aligned with said first mentioned track.

7. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it and'acarriage movable across the face of said knife, a guiding and supportingtrack along which said carriage is movable, said track being alignedwith the center of weight of said carriage, said track being circular incross-section, and

an additional guide track in operative engagement with said carriage,adapted to hold said carriage against rotation about said firstmentioned track.

8. In aslicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it and acarriage movable across the face of said knife, a work support pivotedupon said carriage for rotation about an axis at right angles to thepath of movement of said carriage, said axis being inclined downwardlyand outwardly away from the cutting plane of the knife, and means foradjusting the inclination of said axis.

9. In combination with a slicing machine having a knife and means foractuating it, an outwardly bowed gauge plate and a carriage movableacross the face of said gauge plate, a work support pivoted upon saidcarriage for rotation about an axis at right angles to the path ofmovement of said carriage, and means for adjusting said axis to permitthe edge of the work support to clear the bowed portion of the gaugeplate when the work support is upwardly tilted.

10. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it and acarriage movable across the face of said knife, a supporting track uponwhich said carriage is slidably mounted, a work support pivoted uponsaid carriage for rotation in relation to said carriage, the axis ofrotation of said Work support lying in the horizontal plane of the trackupon which the carriage moves.

11. In a slicing machine having a knife and means for actuating it and acarriage movable across the face of said knife, a supporting track uponwhich said carriage is slidably mounted, a Work support pivoted uponsaid carriage for rotation in relation to said carriage, about an axisat right angles to the path of movement of the carriage, said axis ofrotation lying in the horizontal plane of the track upon which thecarriage moves, there being a separate pivot connection at each side ofsaid track.

Signed at Indianapolis, county of Marion and State of Indiana, this 5thday of June WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL.

